Mastroeni to Chivas or New England?

Looks as though DC is not in the cards for Pablo Mastroeni now. Ives is reporting this morning that the two clubs that are close to reaching any kind of deal with the Rapids for Mastroeni are Chivas USA and New England Revolution.

According to sources, the Rapids are actively shopping Mastroeni, who is set to either join another MLS club or could end up leaving on a transfer in next few days.

There is no doubt the Revs would love to pit Mastroeni alongside Shalrie Joseph and could deal a package including the rights to Pat Noonan along with Jeff Larentowicz. The reason why I say the rights to Noonan, he signed with an club in Norway on a free transfer. However if that Soccer America article is wrong, and Noonan is in the deal, the Rapids would get a solid start up top, a position that they lack quality players at right now.

As for the Goats and what they have to offer. Well, as we all know they’ve been fairly busy themselves this off-season. First by dumping a load of players and then trading for a couple before and after the draft. Reports out there say that the club and goal-scorer Ante Razov aren’t seeing eye-to-eye anymore and he could be the likely candidate in a trading package for the Rapids. Colorado needs a goal-scorer and Chivas would love Mastroeni.

Some are wondering why the Rapids would want to unload the face of their club. I was a little puzzled by it at first but its a report and a rumor that I’ve heard since the final wistle of their season back in October. Then the puzzleing selection of Ciaran O’Brien in the MLS Draft helped many of us figure out what we already knew about the Rapids.

Mastroeni’s options aren’t limited to MLS. He could make a move before the close of the transfer window at the end of the month, with Spain and Mexico possibilities. I could never see Pablo in with a Mexican club for some reason but sometimes you just never know in this game.

I think in the end Mastroeni could very well be in a Chivas uniform next year. A Razov – for – Mastroeni plus some allocation or draft picks kind of swap makes sense for both clubs, even more so than Mastroeni to New England. It is still a bit weird seeing the Rapids ship off their captain and most recognizable player like this but sometimes you have to shake things up to get positive results in return and that is something all Rapids fans want.